CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Three down, one to go.
And the kicking controversy rolls on.
Cade York missed a potential game-winning field goal with just under 2-minutes remaining as the Browns and Eagles played to an 18-18 tie.
Here’s our top Brownie Bites from the tie.
With the game tied at 18, York missed wide right from 47 after the 2-minute warning but an illegal formation on the Eagles gave him another shot from 41. He then pushed that wide left. Prior to those kicks, York had made three field goals – two from 43 and another from 37 in addition to a PAT. He is now 3-6 this preseason. “He's so talented. He's a hard worker. He's been really consistent throughout training camp,” special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone told Aditi Kinkhabwala on News 5 at halftime. “I know that we haven't had the results in these games that we have wanted, but he's stuck to his process so far and made both his kicks.”
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate had himself a night and is making a strong case to make the 53. Diabate dropped Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell in the end zone for a safety and a 2-0 lead. Diabate then punched a football out of the hands of Eagles running back Trey Sermon in the second quarter that was recovered by cornerback Cameron Mitchell. Diabate also made a nice play on special teams and generated multiple QB pressures.
Ronnie Hickman, the undrafted rookie safety from Ohio State, came away with his third interception in the last two games after picking off Marcus Mariota on an overthrow in the first quarter. Hickman had three interceptions total in four years for the Buckeyes.
Rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson finished 13 of 25 for 164 yards and a rating of 72.8 in the first half. DTR made a pair of beautiful throws – the first to rookie and third round pick Cedric Tillman, who did a great job high pointing the football on a 36-yard catch on the opening drive while being hit throwing it and then he threaded the needle between a pair of defenders on a 27-yard completion to Austin Watkins in the second quarter. He was also flagged for an illegal blindside block.
Receiver Austin Watkins Jr. was sensational again. He led the Browns with seven catches for 139 yards and a touchdown.
John Kelly had his chance, but it looks like he might have lost the competition for the third running back slot. Kelly fumbled inside the 5 trying to score from the 1, ending a productive opening drive. It’s the second time in as many weeks Kelly was given an opportunity from the 1 to score and he went nowhere both times. Kelly carried eight times for 20 yards while Demetric Felton ran it seven times for 36.
Deshaun Watson told Kinkhabwala in the first half he would like to play at least a quarter in the preseason finale at Kansas City – a request Kevin Stefanski appears prepared to accommodate. “Oh, I would love to be out there,” Watson told Kinkhabwala on News 5. “I'm not sure how much exactly because I know Kevin don't want us to play the whole game but get a little rhythm going for maybe a quarter or so against the Super Bowl champs and just have that test. So I think it'll be fun.”
Injury report – Rookie corner Cameron Mitchell got banged up in the first quarter but returned. Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. suffered a shoulder injury in the opening quarter and did not return. Cornerback Lorenzo Burns was helped off by trainers with a shoulder injury in the second quarter.
